Japanese group seeks N-free Pacific zone

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 7

Japanese group seeks N-free Pacific zone

FA Auckland A 17-member delegation from Japan’s largest antinuclear group has arrived in Auckland to lay the groundwork for making the Pacific a non-nuclear zone. The Japan Congress Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikin) be-

I i lieves the creation of a nonnuclear Pacific is an impori 1 tant and urgent task. It will hold discussions with New i Zealand peace groups during J the visit. An international antinuclear conference is planned ■ for early next year. Mr Kanobu Sekiguchi, ; general secretary, and Mr ■ Yukio-Ak, secretary of Genjsuikin’s international section, lead the group. Mr Sekiguchi said the South Pacific was the next logical choice for the creation of a non-nuclear zone after i South America. The congress fully supported United Nations moves to this end, he said, its other aims are i — To investigate the conditions of victims of nuclear bombs in Japan, the ! Marshall Islands, Mururoa and the United States, the level of radio-activity and damage to the environment, and to discuss wavs of extending aid to the 1 victims of nuclear bombs.

j— To investigate nuclear bases, the deployment of | nuclear weapons in the j Pacific and plans for any future facilities, and discuss action for their removal. ) — To report on the dei velopment of nuclear power stations and reprocessing plants, and support joint action against plans for any international joint plans for the nuclear fuel cycle. — To take action against the disposal of radioactive wastes in the Pacific. ; — To examine the independence of various nations in the Pacific in relation to present nuclear strategy. ■ — To form an information I network to keep Pacific nations up to date on the actual conditions of nuclear tests in the Pacific.